Happy Indenpendence Day America!

From our family to yours, Happy Independence Day to you. May it be rich in fellowship and pride. May it be safe for all, especially for those men and women serving our country throughout the world.

For those impacted by the Floods of 2008 and storms in the State of Iowa and elsewhere, may Independence Day provide us a little comfort and enjoyment in some fitting way.

peace

First Full Day of Summer: Bring on the Dog Days...

Here in Iowa, we can use the Dog Days of Summer, after a Spring filled with bad weather and epic flooding...

peace

Take for Higher Ground: Flood of 2008 to Surpass Flood of 1993

Eastern Iowans are reliving the Flood of 1993 today. The Flooding of 2008 is expected to surpass 1993 in both Linn and Johnson Counties, in Iowa.

It's been a tough Spring, so far, with the F5 tornadoes in the State during Memorial Day weekend and now with flooding in various parts of the State, including Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Linn County officials are meeting today to prepare for more flooding.

Sandbags are being filled and residents are fearing more destruction from higher waters from the Flood of 2008.

The National Weather Service flood forecast has been upped today. For Linn County, the expected crest surpasses the Flood of 1993 and is on course to crest at the current record crests of 20 feet in 1851 and 1929.

peace

Is the Iowa-ISU Rivarly in Football Living up to Expectations?

Well, ISU's AD Jamie Pollard and Iowa's AD Gary Barta put things to bed and extended the Cy-Hawk Football Series through 2017 this week.

Well, they need to make one more major change. Please, move the game to late November. Make it the last game of the season for the University of Iowa.

The Iowa-Iowa State rivalry in football is better the Colorado-Colorado State, but is it the best in-state non-conference rivalry game in the Nation? Shouldn't it be better?

The Big Ten has an odd number of teams, so the rotation of Iowa - Wisconsin - Minnesota will always leave one odd team out each season. Last year, Iowa was the team. This year, it's Wisconsin, who will close with Division I-AA (FCS Division) Cal-Poly, while Iowa faces Minnesota. The rest of the Big Ten: PSU-MSU, Michigan-OSU, IU-Purdue, and Northwestern-Illinois. Wouldn't it be a win-win for all in the Big Ten?

Who is Iowa State's regular rival to close the Big 12? Does ISU, in football, clearly have a natural rival better than the University of Iowa. Iowa does have Minnesota... and, Wisconsin has certainly developed as one. I would not count Iowa's top game annually as being the in-state rivalry. It shouldn't be.

On the flip side, who is ISU's natural rivalry in the Big 12? Nebraska-Colorado, K-State-KU, KU-Missouri, but does ISU really have a similar rivalry? Nebraska fans would mention OU before ISU, imo. This is despite the fact they don't play OU regularly, each season, since the Big 12 was formed.

Iowa vs. Iowa State would be a natural rivalry, like the ACC's Georgia Tech and the SEC's Georgia. For a rivalry that has lacked a spark at times in football... at minimum, it could become the Midwest's version of what is found in the South in Georgia.

On Iowa! Go State! Let's see it happen in the State of Iowa!

BTW - Iowa vs. Nebraska and Iowa State vs. Minnesota would appear to be outstanding future non-conference rivalries too. For now, it's Floyd (the Pig), the Bull, and Cy-Hawk!

peace

Election Note: June 3rd Primary in the State of Iowa

Interesting tidbit from the Linn County, Iowa Auditor. In 3-Way Supervisor races, the winner of either the Democrat or Republican Primary must receive at least 35 percent of the primary vote to win.

The State of Iowa conducted its statewide primary today, June 3rd, for U.S. Senate, U.S. House (Iowa has 5 Districts), state house, some state senate races, and county government races.

Linn County is switching from a 3 member supervisor team to a five member supervisor team, now elected by districts. All 3 incumbents are up for election and it will be interesting to see how each does after the change in supervisor makeup in last year's special election.

For Live Results from Linn County, Iowa.

Further, on a national note tonight, after the Democrat presidential primaries in South Dakota and Montana, it appears that both major political parties know their presumptive candidates for their party's nomination for president now.

peace